Secured delivery locker

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for receiving and storing delivered items. In some embodiments, a secured delivery locker is described herein that can communicate with delivery vehicles and/or users. In several embodiments, an autonomous delivery vehicle can communicate with a secured delivery locker to authenticate itself. The secured delivery locker can then grant access to the delivery vehicle, such as by opening a door to an interior thereof, so that the delivery vehicle can deposit a package therein. The locker can then confirm receipt of the package and close the door. Thereafter, the locker and/or the delivery vehicle can update a system to indicate that the package was delivered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/842,527 filed Dec. 14, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional application No. 62/435,440, filed Dec. 16, 2016, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to storage containers and, morespecifically, to secured storage containers.

BACKGROUND

Deliveries are commonly made to lockers or other storage containers.Options are now being explored for utilizing unmanned vehicles, such asdrones, to deliver packages. When delivering to lockers, however,unmanned vehicles can be faced with circumstances where a deliverycannot be successfully completed. Identification of these circumstancesand exception handling can be helpful in the development of satisfactoryoperation of unmanned delivery vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methodspertaining to secured reception and storage of delivered items. Thisdescription includes drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a delivery system in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a delivery locker and delivery vehiclein accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an electronic assembly for a deliverylocker in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in accordance with some embodiments.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems,apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for receiving andstoring delivered items. More specifically, a locker is described hereinthat is configured to receive and store delivered items in a securemanner. The locker can communicate with delivery vehicles and/or users.Advantageously, such a configuration can be utilized with autonomousvehicles, such as drones or robots, so that the vehicles can communicatewith the locker and receive access thereto for deliveries. The lockercan also communicate with customers or delivery persons to grant accessthereto.

In some embodiments, an autonomous delivery vehicle can communicate witha secured delivery locker to authenticate itself. The locker can thengrant access to the delivery vehicle, such as by opening a door to aninterior thereof, so that the delivery vehicle can deposit a packagetherein. The locker can then confirm receipt of the package and closethe door. Thereafter, the locker and/or the delivery vehicle can updatea system to indicate that the package was delivered. The locker can alsonotify an owner of the locker that the package was delivered and readyfor pick-up and the owner can access the package using an access code orthe like.

Pursuant to this, a secured delivery locker 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-5.The delivery locker 10 includes a housing 12 having an interior 14 and adoor 16 providing access thereto. The housing 12 can take any suitableshape and size for the intended use and type/size of packages beingdelivered. The door 16 is movable between open and closed positions,exposing and blocking an opening 18 to the housing interior 14.

The locker 10 further includes an electrical assembly 20 including acontrol circuit 22, a locking mechanism 24 mounted to the door 16 and/orhousing 12 that is configured to prevent access to the housing interior14 to only authorized users, one or more fullness sensors 26 configuredto determine a fullness level of the housing interior 14, a transceiver27, and a storage device 28 to store information thereon as set forthbelow.

The term control circuit refers broadly to any microcontroller,computer, or processor-based device with processor, memory, andprogrammable input/output peripherals, which is generally designed togovern the operation of other components and devices. It is furtherunderstood to include common accompanying accessory devices, includingmemory, transceivers for communication with other components anddevices, etc. These architectural options are well known and understoodin the art and require no further description here. The control circuit22 may be configured (for example, by using corresponding programmingstored in a memory as will be well understood by those skilled in theart) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and/or functionsdescribed herein.

In some embodiments, the locker 10 can be configured to interact withautonomous delivery vehicles 30, such as drones or robots, to receivedeliveries therefrom. The delivery vehicles 30 can include controlcircuits 32 and associated communication and storage devices33/circuitry to communicate with the locker 10 to authenticate itselfover any suitable communication network 35, such as radio, WiFi,Bluetooth, near field communication, and so forth. If desired, thedelivery vehicles 30 can utilize one of several options for locating thelocker 10. By a first approach, the locker electronic assembly 20 canfurther include a beacon device 34 that can be utilized by the deliveryvehicles 30 to locate the locker 10. By a second approach, the deliveryvehicles 30 can include global positioning system circuitry 36. By athird approach, the locker housing 12 can have markings 38 thereon thatcan be read and identified by a scanner 40 on the delivery vehicles 30.

By several approaches, a central system 42, which can include a controlcircuit/server device 44 and database devices 46, can be configured tocommunicate with the locker 10 and delivery vehicles 30, and provide acentral repository for identification and shipment information therefor.

As discussed above and as shown in FIG. 3, the electronic assembly 20can include one or more sensors 26, which can be distributed in an arrayor disposed along one or more walls 48 of the interior 14 as desired,that are configured to determine available space within the housinginterior 14. As such, the locker 10 can utilize the sensors 26 todetermine whether a package 50 is disposed within the interior, thelocation/position of the package 50, and available space within theinterior 14 for subsequent packages 50.

The sensors 26 can further be configured to output signaling thatindicates a fullness level of the housing interior 14. By one approach,the sensors 26 can determine the position of any packages 50 in thehousing interior 14. For example, the sensor 26 can be an opticalsensor, utilizing lasers or the like, can scan the housing interior 14to determine the location and/or position of any packages 50 therein. Byfurther approaches, the sensors 26 can include a piezoelectric scale,stationary or movable electronic imagers and associated image analysis,including text recognition, scanners to create a point cloud, barcodereaders, and so forth. The sensors 26 are in communication with thecontrol circuit 22 so that the control circuit 22 can analyze thereadings thereof and determine a fullness level for the housing interior14.

In some embodiments, the electronic assembly 20 can include additionalsensors or components. In a first example, delivered packages 50 caninclude perishable items that require temperature control. As such, theassembly 20 can include a temperature regulation system 52, includingcooling and heating system, if desired. The control circuit 22 canoperate the system 52 to maintain a desired temperature in the housinginterior 14 conformed to a package 50 therein. By a further approach,the housing 12 can include an indicator 54, such as a light sourcevisible on an exterior 56 thereof, an alarm signal, or the like, toprovide an indication that the temperature regulation system 52 isworking properly or malfunctioning, as desired. For example, thedelivery vehicle 30 can determine whether the system 52 is working byexamining the indicator 54 prior to delivering the package 50 using animager 58 or other scanner mounted thereto.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 12 can also include a manipulator 60configured to move/position packages 50 within the housing interior 14to better utilize the space therein. For example, if a package 50 ispositioned in the middle of the interior 14 or disposed at an angle, thecontrol circuit 22 can analyze readings from the sensors 26 and operatethe manipulator 60 to move the package 50 to a more desirable locationand/or position to thereby optimize the usage of space. The manipulator60 can take any suitable form(s), such as an arm having one or morejoints, a vibration mechanism, and so forth.

So configured, the locker 10, delivery vehicle 30, and central system 42can communicate therebetween for delivery of a package 50. For example,the delivery vehicle 30 and the locker 10 can communicate toauthenticate the vehicle 30. The vehicle 30 can send an access code orother authentication information to the locker 10 to be verified by thecontrol circuit 22 thereof, such as by comparison to information storedon the storage device 28 or received from the central system 42. Ifdesired, the locker 10 can initiate communications with the deliveryvehicle 30 in response to determining that the delivery vehicle 30 iswithin a predetermined range of the locker 10. The access code can be aone-time code generated for delivery of the package 50 or can be ageneral code utilized by the vehicle and/or locker. Further, if desired,the locker 10 can be configured to authenticate itself with the deliveryvehicle 30 using any of the above methods, to confirm that delivery isbeing directed to the correct locker 10.

The locker 10 can be configured to reject delivery of the package 50 fora number of reasons. In one example, the locker 10, and specifically thecontrol circuit 22 thereof, can be instructed by an owner of the locker10 reject all deliveries. In another example, as set forth in moredetail below, the locker 10 can lack the space available to receive anadditional package. In another example, conditions of the delivery maynot be able to be met. In yet another example, the control circuit 22can determine that the package 50 does not match the item indicated fordelivery.

As set forth above, the control circuit 22 can analyze the readings fromthe sensors 26 to determine the fullness level of the housing 12. By oneapproach, the control circuit 22 can send an indication of availablespace to the delivery vehicle 30 and the delivery vehicle 30 can analyzethe package dimensions to determine if the package 50 can fit in theavailable space. Thereafter, the delivery vehicle 30 can either send aconfirmation signal to the locker 10 or can start exception handlingdecision tree, set forth in more detail below. By another approach, thecontrol circuit 22 can compare the available space to productinformation received from the delivery vehicle 30 and/or the centralsystem 42. Thereafter, the control circuit 22 can either send aconfirmation of sufficient space message back to the delivery vehicle 30and/or central system 42 or can send an insufficient space messagethereto. By a further approach, the control circuit 22 can monitor theavailable space using the sensors 26 and send updated status messages tothe central system 42 so that subsequent deliveries can be analyzedprior to being commenced.

After the delivery vehicle 30 and/or locker 10 has been authenticatedand space availability has been confirmed, the control circuit 22 of thelocker 10 can unlock the locking mechanism 24 for delivery. The controlcircuit 22 can further cause the door 16 to open, moving the door 16from the closed position to the open position. By one approach, the door16 can include two portions that each open on opposite sides of theopening 18, similar to bay doors. If desired, the control circuit 22 canopen the door 16 in response to receiving the access code or can openthe door 16 in response to a separate signal transmitted from thedelivery vehicle 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the opening 18 can be providedthrough a top 50 of the locker 10 to provide easy access for drones orthe like. By another or further approach, the opening 18 can be providedin a side 52 of the locker 10 for ground vehicles.

By an alternative, or back-up, approach, the delivery vehicle 30 canutilize the imager 58 mounted thereto analyze the available space in thehousing interior 14 by capturing images and/or video of the interior 14through the opening 18 and analyzing the images with the control circuit32 thereof.

After the door 16 is opened, the delivery vehicle 30 can then depositthe package 50 in the locker interior 14. Thereafter, the locker 10 canconfirm that the package 50 has been delivered. In a first approach, thesensor 26 can send a signal to the control circuit 22 in response tosensing the package 50, as set forth in more detail below. In a secondor further approach, the delivery vehicle 30 can transmit a signal tothe locker 10 to confirm delivery of the package 50. The locker 10and/or delivery vehicle 30 can further transmit a signal to the centralsystem 42 confirming delivery. Thereafter, the control circuit 22 cancause the door 16 to close, securing the package 50 within the lockerinterior 14.

If desired, the electronic assembly 20 can validate that the deliveredpackage 50 is correct. More specifically, the control circuit 22 canconfirm via communications with the delivery vehicle 30 and/or centralsystem 42 to confirm that expected delivery information matches theactual delivery information.

For example, the control circuit 22 can analyze information regardingthe package 50, which can be received from the delivery vehicle 30 orthe central system 42, and compare sensor readings to the information.By one approach, the sensors 26 can include a barcode reader and thecontrol circuit 22 can analyze the barcode reading. By another approach,the information can include dimensions for the intended package 50,which the control circuit 22 can compare to dimensions of the deliveredpackage 50 determined by the sensors 26. By further approaches, thecontrol circuit 22 can communicate with the delivery vehicle 30 and/orcentral system 42 to confirm delivery information, such as deliverylocation, delivery time, temperature requirements for the delivery, andso forth.

After delivery of the package 50, the central system 42 and/or controlcircuit 22 can proceed with transaction reconciliation, which caninclude securing payment for the package 50 by any suitable methods.Finally, the system 42 can be updated to finalize the transaction.

As discussed above, however, in certain circumstances, the delivery isrejected. In these situations, the delivery vehicle and/or centralsystem 42 can determine a next step according to exception handlingrules. The rules can be subject to or incorporate customer settings. Forexample, the exception handling can determine that the next step isreturning the package 50, deliver the package 50 to a differentlocation, which can be set by the customer, delivered at a later time,exchanged for an item in the locker 10, and so forth. By one approach,alternative delivery locations can be stored at the locker 10, which canthen send an alternative location to the delivery vehicle 30 when adelivery is refused. Optional delivery locations can include at a retaillocation, at a neighbor, friend, or family house, another securedlocker, and the like. The customer can also determine a priority fordelivered items. The customer settings can be preset and stored at thelocker, central system 42, and/or delivery vehicle 30.

As discussed above, the locker 10 can be associated with a customer. Bya first approach, the locker 10 can be owned and used by a singlecustomer. By a second approach, the locker 10 can be a shared lockerservicing several customers. In either circumstance, the control circuit22 of the locker 10 can utilize the transceiver 27 thereof to sendnotification messages to the customer. Notification messages can includea message that the package 50 was delivered, a message that the locker10 is full, or a message that a delivery was rejected, which can includereasons for rejection, for example.

Authorized customers can retrieve the package 50 by any suitable securemethod. For example, the electronic assembly 20 can include a user input62 that the customer can use to enter an access code or information. Forexample, the user input 62 can be a keypad, biometric reader/scanner, orcan utilize the transceiver 27 to receive an access code, such as from asmart device of the user. In one approach, the customer smart device canrun a dedicated application configured to transmit an access code to thelocker 10.

In some embodiments, a delivery locker is described herein that includesa housing having an interior; a door of the housing configured to bemoved between open and closed positions; a sensor mounted to the housingand configured to output signaling corresponding to a fullness level ofthe interior of the housing; a transceiver; and a control circuit incommunication with the sensor and the transceiver. The control circuitis configured to: determine the fullness level of the interior of thehousing based at least on the signaling from the sensor; and communicatevia the transceiver with a delivery vehicle to notify the deliveryvehicle whether a package being delivered by the delivery vehicle canfit within the housing interior.

By several approaches, the control circuit can be configured to send amessage to an owner of the delivery locker to notify the owner that thehousing cannot receive the package. By other approaches, the controlcircuit can be configured to send a message to an owner of the deliverylocker to notify the owner that the package was delivered.

By some approaches, the control circuit can be configured to move thedoor to the open position in response to receiving a signal from thedelivery vehicle.

By several approaches, the sensor can be configured to determine aposition of one or more packages within the interior of the housing. Byfurther approaches, the delivery locker can include a manipulatormounted to the housing and configured to position packages within theinterior of the housing to maximize available space.

By some approaches, the control circuit can be configured to analyzemedia captured by a camera device mounted to the delivery vehicle, alongwith a reading from the sensor, to determine the fullness level.

By several approaches, the control circuit, in response to determiningthat the package cannot fit within the interior of the housing, can beconfigured to determine a next location to send the package and send amessage to the delivery vehicle indicating the next location.

In some embodiments and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a method 100 forreceiving a package delivery at a locker is described herein thatincludes: receiving 102 a signal from a delivery vehicle at atransceiver of the locker indicating that the delivery vehicle has apackage for delivery to the locker; receiving 104 signaling from asensor mounted to the locker at a control circuit, the signalingcorresponding to a fullness level of an interior the locker; determining106 the fullness level of the interior of the housing based at least onthe signaling from the sensor; and sending 108 a signal with the controlcircuit via the transceiver to notify the delivery vehicle whether thepackage can fit within the interior of the locker.

By some approaches, the method 100 can further include authenticating110 the delivery vehicle with the control circuit.

By several approaches, the method 100 can further include sending 118 amessage to an owner of the locker with the transceiver to notify theowner that the locker cannot receive the package. By other approaches,the method 100 can further include sending 120 a message to an owner ofthe locker with the transceiver to notify the owner that the package wasdelivered.

By some approaches, the method 100 can further include moving 116 a doorof the locker to an open position with the control circuit in responseto receiving a signal from the delivery vehicle.

By several approaches, the method 100 can further include determining112 a position of one or more packages within the interior of the lockerwith the sensor. By further approaches, the method 100 can includepositioning 114 the one or more packages in the interior of the lockerwith a manipulator mounted to the locker to increase/maximize availablespace.

By some approaches, the method 100 can further include maintaining 122 atemperature within the locker with a temperature regulation system.

By several approaches, the method 100 can further include visuallyindicating 124 that the temperature regulation system is malfunctioningwith an indicator visible on an exterior of the locker.

By some approaches, the method can further include receiving media fromthe delivery vehicle captured by a camera device thereof; and analyzingthe media with the control circuit to determine the fullness level.

By several approaches, the method 100 can further include determining126 a next location to send the package with the control circuit inresponse to determining that the package cannot fit within the interiorof the locker; and sending 128 a message to the delivery vehicleindicating the next location.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of othermodifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made withrespect to the above described embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A delivery locker comprising: a housing having aninterior; a door of the housing configured to be moved between open andclosed positions; a sensor mounted to the housing and configured tooutput signaling corresponding to a fullness level of the interior ofthe housing; a transceiver; a control circuit in communication with thesensor and the transceiver, wherein the control circuit is configuredto: determine the fullness level of the interior of the housing based atleast on the signaling from the sensor; and communicate via thetransceiver with a delivery vehicle to notify the delivery vehiclewhether a package being delivered by the delivery vehicle can fit withinthe housing interior.
 2. The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to authenticate the delivery vehicle. 3.The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit isconfigured to send a message to an owner of the delivery locker tonotify the owner that the housing cannot receive the package.
 4. Thedelivery locker of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured tosend a message to an owner of the delivery locker to notify the ownerthat the package was delivered.
 5. The delivery locker of claim 1,wherein the control circuit is configured to move the door to the openposition in response to receiving a signal from the delivery vehicle. 6.The delivery locker of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured todetermine a position of one or more packages within the interior of thehousing.
 7. The delivery locker of claim 6, further comprising amanipulator mounted to the housing and configured to position packageswithin the interior of the housing to maximize available space.
 8. Thedelivery locker of claim 1, further comprising a temperature regulationsystem configured to maintain a temperature within the interior of thehousing.
 9. The delivery locker of claim 8, further comprising anindicator visible on an exterior of the housing configured to provide avisual indication to the delivery vehicle that the temperatureregulation system is malfunctioning.
 10. The delivery locker of claim 1,wherein the control circuit is configured to analyze media captured by acamera device mounted to the delivery vehicle, along with a reading fromthe sensor, to determine the fullness level.
 11. The delivery locker ofclaim 1, wherein the control circuit, in response to determining thatthe package cannot fit within the interior of the housing, is configuredto determine a next location to send the package and send a message tothe delivery vehicle indicating the next location.
 12. A method forreceiving a package delivery at a locker, the method comprising:receiving a signal from a delivery vehicle at a transceiver of thelocker indicating that the delivery vehicle has a package for deliveryto the locker; receiving signaling from a sensor mounted to the lockerat a control circuit, the signaling corresponding to a fullness level ofan interior of the locker; determining the fullness level of theinterior of the housing based at least on the signaling from the sensor;and sending a signal with the control circuit via the transceiver tonotify the delivery vehicle whether the package can fit within theinterior of the locker.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprisingauthenticating the delivery vehicle with the control circuit.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising sending a message to an owner ofthe locker with the transceiver to notify the owner that the lockercannot receive the package.
 15. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising sending a message to an owner of the locker with thetransceiver to notify the owner that the package was delivered.
 16. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising moving a door of the locker to anopen position with the control circuit in response to receiving a signalfrom the delivery vehicle.
 17. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising determining a position of one or more packages within theinterior of the locker with the sensor.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising positioning the one or more packages in the interiorof the locker with a manipulator mounted to the locker to maximizeavailable space.
 19. The method of claim 12, further comprisingmaintaining a temperature within the locker with a temperatureregulation system.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprisingvisually indicating that the temperature regulation system ismalfunctioning with an indicator visible on an exterior of the locker.21. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving media from thedelivery vehicle captured by a camera device thereof; and analyzing themedia with the control circuit to determine the fullness level.
 22. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: determining a next location tosend the package with the control circuit in response to determiningthat the package cannot fit within the interior of the locker; andsending a message to the delivery vehicle indicating the next location.